Huntsville gazette., 1887-05-14
FRATRICIDE.
THE MOST APPALLING TRAGEDY
HUNTSVILLE HAS EVER KNOWN
A Family in Mourning.

About seven O'Clock a. m. Tuesday
the residents in the vicinity OF Henry
and Fountain Streets were startled on
hearing the ominous report Of pistol
shots that woke the echoes OF the balmy
May day morn. 1t was not long until
the terrible thrilling intelligence was
nOised abroad that Mr.. w. t. Hutchens
had shot and killed one brother and
wounded another.
iii news travels fast, but in this case
many were slow to believe it, for w. L.
Hutchens bore character as pure and
stainless as the MONDAY sun. But the
news was, we regret to say, true-too
painfully true in every particular. The
outstretched form of Newt. Hutchens,
cold and stiff in the embrace of death,
showed traces Of fratricidal doings.
Then rumor, malicious tongued ru-
NOR, gave fifty different versions of the
deed of blood. We believe none of
them, and we have too much respect for
the grief stricken family to repeat any of
them. Most OF the accounts however
agreed that some domestic trouble was
the immediate cause OF the dire disaster
which has plunged loved and respect
ed family into the depths OF woe, and
stained the hand OF as brave and manly
youth as ever lived with the brand OF
Cain brothers blood.
In the Fall of last year Mr.. VIM T.
Hutchens was married. The day prior
thereto one OF the editors of this paper
was conversing with him mapping out a
route for bridal tour. We recommen.
ded a river trip from New Orleans to
Cincinnati; and we remember very forci
bly, now his reply: Il do not care to be
far away from telegraph facilities on the
trip, as my brother Newt. is quite sick,
and | may at any time be summoned
home in hurry"
The affection expressed then for the
brother dead this morning, bids us pause
and ask what demon OF discord dulled
the senses and dethroned the reason of
Will HutChens when the fatal shot was
fired, and the leaden messenger OF death
extinguished the life of Newt. Hutch
ems We cannot believe that Will, who
ever was pattern OF moral worth, COM
mitted this deed in cold blood The
cause of the tragedy we care not to
dwell upon, the judicial investigation
will probe these facts in every harrow
ing detail, and lay them naked to the
world.
After the shooting, Mr.. Hutchens wenl
and surrendered himself TO City Marshal
Franks; and the dead body of Newt.
was conveyed to the parlor OF his fath>
er's house, and laid out for burial.
One of the shots took effect in the arm
of Charles Hutchens, fortunately how
ever, producing only a flesh wound.
Three of the shots fired entered the body
OF Newt, the one causing death being
in the region of, and below the heart.
He lived only few minutes.
In common with the entire communi>
ty, we deplore this sad occurrence, and
to the bereaved parents we extend oul
heartfelt sympathy in this sad hour of
crushing sorrow.
The funeral took place from the resi-
dence OF Mr.. and Mrs. j. NJ. Hutchens
Wednesday afternoon at half past four
o'clock, the Rev. H. H. Smith, pa stor of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The sad affair was freely commented
upon by knots of citizens upon the
streets and I'VE heard many ex>
pressions OF coincidence rendered Mr..
J. NJ. Hutch ems, the father of the boys.
He is well known in this city, as a
honest man and wor-
thy citizen. Upright and honest and
square, charitable to all, an indulgent
father and kind husband; the swelling
heart of our community goes out in a
flood of sympathy for him in this dark
hour when mournful grief begets der
spair. Such sympathy is not lost. Mercury